[Obesity hypoventilation syndrome--serious but reversible providing weight is lost]

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2011:155:A2914.
[Article in Dutch]

Abstract

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a condition in which obesity and chronic hypoventilation during waking hours are combined. Patients with OHS are more likely to be hospitalized and to require intensive-care monitoring compared with patients with similar degrees of obesity without hypoventilation. Treatment with chronic non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is associated with a lower morbidity and mortality. We present 2 cases of OHS; in the first case, a 56-year-old woman, we show that it is very important to diagnose and treat OHS at an early stage in order to avoid severe morbidity. In the second case, a 31-year-old man, we show that if a patient with OHS and chronic NPPV looses a significant amount of weight NPPV can be discontinued. Patients with OHS should be treated in a multidisciplinary team in order to achieve significant weight loss, so NPPV could be a temporary treatment or even be avoided.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Mass Index
  • Carbon Dioxide / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome / therapy*
  • Partial Pressure
  • Polysomnography
  • Positive-Pressure Respiration / methods*
  • Pulmonary Gas Exchange
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight Loss / physiology*

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide